What is the law?

Utah has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to underage drinking. A person under the age of 21 years old who possesses, consumes, buys or tries to buy alcohol (even by asking somebody else to buy it) or who has any measurable amount of alcohol in his or her blood, breath or urine, is committing a crime under Utah law.

Can you imagine your teen in jail?

What are the penalties?

Utah’s strict alcohol laws are known as the "not-a-drop" rules. Penalties for violating any of these laws in Utah are severe. They may include hundreds of dollars in fines and even jail time. Utah courts could also order that the minor participate in a substance abuse class.
A first-time violation for underage drinking or possession of alcohol can result in a 90-day driver’s license suspension—even if a vehicle is not involved. A second violation within three years can result in a driver’s license being suspended for one year. A minor who violates underage drinking laws before they are old enough to have a Utah driver’s license will be denied application for a driver’s license until 90 days after they become old enough to legally apply for their license.

Driving under the influence

Driving under the influence (DUI), is taken extremely seriously. If a chemical test determines that a driver who is under age 21 has a blood alcohol content (BAC) above 00.00 percent, the driver can be cited for driving under the influence.

Under Utah’s “Implied Consent” law, if an officer asks to test your breath, saliva, blood or urine to determine your blood alcohol level, you must agree. If you refuse to test, your license is revoked for a period of 18 months.

For a first-time offender of a DUI, the penalty includes at least 48 hours in jail, at least a $700 fine, and at least a 120-day license suspension. Second offenses are always much more severe.

A haunting decision

One potentially devastating effect of a youthful DUI is that your child may be required to disclose his or her conviction on college applications, job applications or for requests for financial aid. Your child could lose out on some great opportunities because of underage drinking.